07/12/2015 Dungeness and Long-eared Owl

Monday 7th December 2015
Dungeness

I couldn't resist the chance to use the break in the poor weather to nip down to Dungeness to see the Long-eared Owl that has been around for a week or so now.  With little or no wind and temperatures of 13 C it was ideal birding conditions.

• The Long-eared Owl duly obliged - just 50 metres from the visitors centre in a tree beyond the dipping pond!  I enjoyed excellent scope views before I set off to go round the reserve.  

Long-eared Owl
Courtesy of Andrew Killick

• Some of the Dungeness staples for this time of year were present too, including 3 or probably 4 "redhead" Smew, at least 4 Goldeneye - including a drake, a Great White Egret, 3 or 4 Tree Sparrows and a Marsh Harrier.

• A stunning male Brambling was a surprise visitor to the feeders.

A super couple of hours and much needed after the recent spate of wet weather.

Today's species list:

Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Brambling
Carrion Crow
Caspian Gull????
Cetti's Warbler (h)
Chaffinch
Coot
Cormorant
Gadwall
Goldcrest
Goldeneye
Goldfinch
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose

Herring Gull
Kestrel
Lapwing
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Little Egret
Long-eared Owl
Magpie
Mallard
Marsh Harrier
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Pintail
Pochard
Robin
Shelduck
Shoveler
Smew
Starling
Teal
Tree Sparrow
Tufted Duck
Wigeon
Wren
Total: 42